Bow to your Corner & Allemande Left, aka, the Publisher/Writer Dance Part Two

Whirling Dervishes and creating cold coffee.

Note: This was to be part two of my previous Substack post. Turns out they really aren’t as dependent on one another as I’d expected. Here’s part one: Do-Si-Do

Whether it’s yesterday’s post now or tomorrow’s headlines today, time spent writing is rarely a straight-line activity. We write with the past, the future, and the present at all times. Writing almost inherently requires you to be alone, in silence, so as to feel timeless. In some fashion, to write, you must feel comfortable and calm enough to allow for perceptive and concise thinking. It’s a kind of whirling dervish. Opposites collide, and balance reigns supreme. Private to public. Mind and thoughts roaming, spinning, and considering what-ifs, mixing words and sounds to arrive at the message you want to share. I liken it to an old story of a recluse who seemed, to others, in one place all the time: Why are you sitting here?’ To this, she replied: 'I am not sitting, I am on a journey.’”¹ Truer words were never spoken, or more apt of the “writing life.” Writing as a whirling dervish. Motion creating a spot upon which to settle.²

Photo by svklimkin on Unsplash

Alright, back to the dancing, the spinning of your partner ‘round and ‘round. The movement between writer and publisher.

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“Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”-Rumi

When a publisher and an author come to an agreement, it’s a chance at a good old-fashioned square dance. In a world of digital realities, people like to think the world is a straight and recognizable path: A leads to B, which, if done right, takes you to C. I like the Rumi quote above in most things. It’s the writing and the process of storytelling that take people places. Not bold words, SCREAMs, or acts of insistence!!!!! I’m not a quantity, but a quality person. As a publisher, I’m usually choosing to believe in a thin slice of your best work. If you tell me you have something better than what you submitted, it slows down my interest. I only want to work with the best writing you have at the time we meet.

As some say, just do the simple stuff right. Write well. Improve your talent. Be persistent and passionate in your craft. Read. Find the precise word needed at the correct time. Edit more than seems reasonable. Meet guidelines. Know that there are lots and lots of other writers, at this very second, who passionately and desperately want to be published as well. If the previous sentence doesn’t inspire you to try even harder, it should.

I’ve read, far too many times, some variation upon this: “I know your website says you’re not taking submissions right now, but ____ (and some clever comment ensues.)” OKAY, Pause here. Do you want to know the reason I’m not taking submissions? I’m too busy helping other authors. What do I mean by that? I’m doing for another what you want me to do for you. In the world of my solo-small publishing life, it’s the books I’m working on now that enable the books I might do in the future. And what do I mean by that? If I don’t make money today, I won’t have funding for your book later on [this is not a subtle clue, btw]. I’m pretty sure every indie publisher’s favorite pick-up line is something like this: “I just bought ten books directly from your website.” Have you done this? If not, why not? (a not-so-subtle clue, again).³

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Round and round we go. Any Entrepreneur worth their longevity needs—at the base of all the theories, facts, advice, and logic—to have enough faith in themselves to make decisions they trust and which they won’t blame others for. Complaining really IS time wasted. This relates to writing, reading, and publishing. You are storytelling entrepreneurs.

I am aware of the writing side of this. How so? I’m trying to find a publisher for a book I’ve worked on for over fifteen years. Like any author, I believe my book is good enough to share with “readers.” Finding a publisher is my next step. It’s hard. I have a good query letter, edited it as many times as I feel I can to improve it, and have been researching potential publishers. So far, nothing, but I digress…

Thirty-some years ago, when I read that publishers have a hard time finding authors, I thought, my god, I can solve that problem. I’ll send them my amazing book. If they didn’t accept it, then I considered them liars. The twist is that it’s not just writing publishers need; it’s the right writing, not to mention, in my case, an author that inspires me, interests me, does the above-mentioned “simple things” right, and which I can work with.

I get it, though. On the surface, if publishers are looking for writing, then “what gives” why so much “rejection.” But where does writing ultimately stack up in the “real world”? Have you been to a book show recently? The lines are in front of the kettle corn, not publishers’ booths. Have you been to a bookstore recently? They aren’t taking reservations to come in and browse as if a restaurant. To add insult to injury, more “book” stores are transitioning into coffee shops and gift shops. Heck, in the college town I live near, they removed the word “bookstore” from the location where they sell textbooks since that word is bad for business. It’s a T-shirt, sweater, shot glass, caps, and trinket store, don’t you know? In the tele-novella mode of thinking, the “I love to curl up with a good book and a mug of coffee” scenario, the coffee and the mug are winning the race.

Let’s wrap this up. A few things to remember when you pitch a project to a publisher. How many books have you bought recently? Did you get carried away in the writing you did? Does your writing inspire and surprise you? Hold your attention? It’s not easy to compete with lattes and cinnamon rolls; with cell phones and 10-second video clips that the social media tech giants have figured out you are essentially addicted to. Against all this, you dang well better make your writing delicious, fun, clairvoyant, endlessly fascinating, and life-altering. Surprise the world and yourself. Prove the AI algorithms are incorrect. Be so inspired by what you’re creating that the hot cup of coffee you poured yourself when you sat down to write has become cold.

May your writing be full of wonder, may it take you on a journey, and may you find a publisher who wants to dance with you. Until then, let’s all join hands and circle “write”

I’m a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Please sample the talents of my fellow collaborative members. Each contributes valuable contributions to the whole.

1. from The Orthodox Way, Kallistos Ware

2. A dervish’s whirling motion helps to balance the inner energy from Explore More Turkey

3. I marvel at people who want me to publish their books and have never bought a book I’ve published. How do you know my books don’t fall apart and are on bright white paper with narrow margins using Times New Roman? Liking me on social media is not a ticket to the show.